Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.

Personal Information[]

Full Name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan

Born: 2/17/63 in Brooklyn, NY

High School: Laney (Wilmington, NC)

College: North Carolina

Drafted by: Chicago Bulls, 1984 (1962)

Height: 6-6

Weight: 216 lbs.

Nickname: Air Jordan

Honors: Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, 1996-98); NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); 10-time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); All-NBA Second Team (1985); Defensive Player of the Year (1988); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Rookie of the Year (1985); 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1988, '96, '98); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92); Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009.^[1]

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. The combination of his abilities can only be matched by very few others. He changed the look of the league, changed the playing style, helped with the globalization of the league and game, and redefined the sneaker culture.

MJ was born in Brooklyn, New York but then his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended the Laney High School, but was cut from the squad.^[1] In 1981, Jordan joined the University of North Carolina and led his team to an NCAA championship(1982). Jordan left the college after his junior year to enter the NBA. He was picked with the third pick by the Chicago Bulls in 1984 NBA draft. In his rookie year, he averaged 28.2 ppg(third in the league), 6.5 rpg, 5.9 apg and earned the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Furthermore, he was selected to All-NBA Second Team.^[1]

After nine seasons, MJ retired with three championships and three MVP awards in order to fulfill his childhood dream, playing baseball. His baseball career was short and unsuccessful. So, on March 18, 1995, Jordan anncounced his return to Chicago with one of the most known sayings in sports history “I’m back.”^[2]

Air Jordan was back in the game with the number 45 instead of number 23. He won three more championships and retired again in 1998. In 1999, he said “I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that .1%.”^[3] In 2001, he returned the league in order to donate his salary to 9/11 victims. After playing for two seasons for the Washington Wizards, His Airness retired for the third time in 2003.^[2]

MJ was in a different level than the other NBA superstars. Magic Johnson said, "There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us." Larry Bird, following a playoff game where Jordan scored 63 points against the Boston Celtics in his second season, said "God disguised as Michael Jordan."^[1]

Famous Games[]

The Shrug: In the first game of 1992 NBA Finals, Jordan scored 35 points in the first half, and finished the night with 39 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals while shooting 59.3 percent from the field in 34 minutes.^[4]

The Double Nickel: Jordan’s fifth game after his first comeback. He scored 55 points with 56.8 percent shooting from the field.^[5]

The Shot: 1989 Eastern Conference First Round Game 5. The game that MJ shot the famous buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored 44 points (53.1 FG percent), grabbed 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.^[6]

The Showdown: 1993 NBA Finals Game 4. Jordan scored 55 points (56.8 FG percent), grabbed 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Jordan helped the Bulls win this game against the Suns, and made the series 3-1.^[7]

69 Points: A regular season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. MJ finished the night with career high 69 points(62.2 FG percent), 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block.^[8]

The Flu Game: 1997 NBA Finals Game 5. Jordan was diagnosed with a stomach virus. Jordan finished the night with 38 points on 48.1 percent shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 44 minutes played, including 15 points in the fourth quarter and the game winner.^[9]

The Last Shot: 1998 NBA Finals Game 6. Jordan finished the night with 45 points(.429 percent FG), 1 rebound, 1 assist and 4 steals.^[10][11]

Awards and Honors[]

Two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- class of 2009 – individual
- class of 2010 – as a member of the "Dream Team"
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame – class of 2009 (as a member of the "Dream Team")
FIBA Hall of Fame – class of 2015
Two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner – 1984, 1992
Six-time NBA champion
Six-time NBA Finals MVP
Five-time NBA MVP
10-time NBA scoring leader (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
14-time NBA All-Star
Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
11-time All-NBA
Nine-time All-Defensive First Team
Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion – 1987, 1988
NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984–85
NBA Defensive Player of the Year – 1987–88
1985 IBM Award winner
NCAA national championship – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: 1981–82
ACC Freshman of the Year – 1981–82
Two-time Consensus NCAA All-American First Team – 1982–83, 1983–84
ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year – 1983–84
USBWA College Player of the Year – 1983–84
Naismith College Player of the Year – 1983–84
John R. Wooden Award – 1983–84
Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1983–84
"Triple Crown" winner
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year – 1991
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
Ranked No.1 by SLAM Magazine's Top 50 Players of All-Time
Ranked No.1 by ESPN SportsCentury's Top North American Athletes of the 20th century
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
1997 Marca Leyenda winner
Seven-time ESPY Award winner (in various categories)
Number 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls
Number 23 retired by the North Carolina Tar Heels
Number 23 retired by the Miami Heat
Statue in front of the United Center^[2]